This is missing the point that the attack on the US was pretty much a result of their attitude and policy towards the rest of the world. Canada has less of a problem in this respect, and is unlikely to end up a target. Either way it seems unlikely that Canada would go gung ho and start a war against someone who had little to do with it without international backing, firstly because it would be considered rude, and secondly because we dont have the military capability!

Like many posters who ask questions and watch the discussion go wildly off-topic, I found my own solution in the meantime.

Life has improved and I'm feeling more positive about life in Canada, I don't feel like just another immigrant at the mercy of the system any more.

Don't even try to tell me that Canadians don't whine .... I know some real classic examples who outshine anything I've ever heard from a Brit.

I know some too but they're exceptions. Most Canadians have a positive outlook. I think criticism is a British national trait which is evident in any conversation so it doesn't help in job interviews which may partially explain the difficulty in getting a job.

We call is honesty - ask a question and you'll get a straight answer.

If you want to get into generalisations, the defining Canadian characteristic when asked a question is to give you the answer that you want to hear.

So you've narrowed the definition of Britishness - something most Scots, Welsh, Irish or English people would define in different ways - into the archetypal example of the whinging Brit?

I'd better go and have my fish and chips for breakfast followed by a swift pint of lager, before I put my union jack t-shirt on and go to work to complain all day

If I can dare to generalise on Canadians, you guys generalise way too often

Well said, but most Americans would disagree with part of what you said. They believe that they were attacked (on 9/11) because of who they are, and not for what they have done in the past in the middle east.

You haven't been in Canada long enough to know what the defining Canadian characteristic even is. Canadians generally tend to be very straight shooters when asked for their opinions unless they feel that some reprisal might be taken against them.

There you go being logical and sensible again.....(I may change my profession and become an engineer like my husband)).......Of course the attack on the US was because of their attitude and foreign policies......but I was amazed by the reaction from the americans...after 9/11......"why would anyone do this to us"......unbelieveable.

Yes, it's true we are very polite (I was teased in the UK - you can always tell an Canadian and American apart......because Canadians are are polite almost to the point of nausea(??) myself I don't know - but do find myself saying thank you at least 5x more than necessary!!!!

My question was really just rhetorical I guess

What?? So three years in Canada mixing with Canadians every day isn't long enough to form any opinion on general Canadian characteristics? Get serious!!!

Do you defend the right of a Canadian to say the majority of Brits are whiners based on a handful of people they have worked with? If you do, you're saying a lot more about Canadian society than you probably think you are.

In that case I must have intimidated a lot of people when I first got here and was trying to find my way around.

I've been here for almost three years and I have the right to have an opinion of Canada and Canadians, be that opinion positive or negative.

In two months time I get to apply for citizenship, then guess what? My opinions suddenly become those of a Canadian citizen, now there's an interesting concept..

I am serious. Just how many parts of Canadian have you lived in? Canada is a large and diverse country, and is not defined by your narrow personal experience in Calgary.

Now show me the post where I have ever done that. I don't believe I ever have. I don't believe the majority of Brits are whiners.


You have a right to your opinions, but you don't have any right to present your stereotypical views on Canadians as fact.

You know, you'll never win an argument being logical/sensible (though it's a nice theory - but will never work in practice - remember the theory/practice theory in University?

Of course you have ever right to your opinion (no matter how long you have lived in Canada (I've never believed the theory that the longer you live in Canada - the more entitled you are to your opinion or the more "Canadian" you are).That's like saying that even I was born and raised in Canada - because my parents are immigrants - I'm not true Canadian - and I've had people tell me that. That's a bunch of garbage. After 3 years of living among Canadians and socializing with them and having kids in school the more you become "Canadianized" (sorry!!!!), and certainly entitled to an opinion.


There are whiners'/complainers' in every country, in every society - you will meet positive/negative people in every day life - We come in contact with alot of Brits - and we have come across all sorts - so you pick and choose your friends. I think that the people that are making this type of comment are just hiding their own "racism".

Well, that is true in the sense that once you receive your citizenship you truly become a Canadian - as opposed to be an immigrant in Canada (ok. ok. don't yell at me - I didn't make the rules). But wouldn't you agree that receiving your citizenship will make a difference in your life?

Two provinces.

[QUOTE=oceanMDX]Now show me the post where I have ever done that. I don't believe I ever have. I don't believe the majority of Brits are whiners.[QUOTE]
I didn't say you did that - I asked you a question. You don't have to leap to your own defence, I wasn't attacking you. If the answer is 'no', that's fine.

I have never presented my opinions as facts - I'm the last person you can accuse of that. Based on previous discussions you should be aware of that one already.

They are MY opinions. Your opinion may the exact opposite, you're welcome to express it. You will not stop me expressing my opinions, I'm not even open to discussion on that one.

If people out there don't have the maturity or wit to realise that most of what gets typed here is purely personal opinion based on personal experience, that's not my problem.

It's not my problem, it's more a problem for the newcomer to the country. There's one point I have to comment with respect to opinions often expressed by newcomers to Canada. That is they spend a year or two in one small corner of Canadian society and then feel that they are qualified to generalize about Canadians and Canada. When in fact, if they lived in another part of Canada, their personal experience could be entirely different. Some will decide they don't like the community they chose and decide to move back to the UK - often based on an inaccurate generalization based on little more than a first impression of the country. The way I see it, that's just a blooming pity, but it's not a problem for me - it's a problem for them.

There are certainly Canadian posters on this forum who present opinions dressed up as fact (don't get riled, I don't mean you). I get annoyed when I read or hear inaccurate crap about stuff like British Negativity and now that I'm getting back to my old self, I just can't ignore it.

As for lots of people trying one bit of Canada - that's very true. It seems like every man and his dog heads for Ontario and BC. Neither Toronto or Vancouver are the centre of the universe - it's unfortunate when people head home due to a bad experience.

Exactly, now we agree.

For sure